Closure for containers



Oct. 6, 1931. A. E. SMITH CLOSURE FOR commmnns Filed Jan. 27, 1930 INVENTOR. HRTHUR E. SMITH.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 6, 1931 PATENT, orrlcs ARTHUR E. SMITH, 0] LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Application filed January 27, 1930. Serial No. 423,764.

This invention relates to closures for containers.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic valve closure particularly adapted for use with collapsible tubes.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for retaining a closure in position on a collapsible tube.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a valved closure which includes a movable cap and wherein the cap is adapted to retain the closure in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure for a container which includes a movable cap wherein when the cap is in one position the closure is operable to discharge the contents of the container and when the cap isin another position the closure is inoperable to dispense the contents of the container. v

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section partly in elevation showing a collapsible tube provided with my improved automatic valve closure and showing the cap turned to an inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the cap turned to a discharge position and showing the automatic valve closure operated'to discharge the contents of the tube.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged bottom plan view of my improved closure.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, showing a slight modification of the closure shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inelusive.

Fig. 8 is aview similar to Fig. 1 showing another modified form of closure.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 99 of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing still another modified form of closure.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have showna colla sible tube at 10. This tube is preferably so t and flexible and may serve as a receptacle for dentifrice, shaving cream, paste, or other viscous substances. In the following description I will refer to my invention as applied to colla sible tubes, but it will be understood that it is not limited to this one use.

' As shown the tube 10-is provided with a relatively stiff frusto-conical end portion 11 integral therewith, and a neck 12 integral with the portion 11. The neck 12 is provided with a bore 13 and an outer circumferential groove 1-1 adjacent the juncture of the neck and the portion 11. Within the bore 13 I provide a partition 15 which is spaced from the top of the neck 12 and is rovided with an elongated aperture 16 whic is positioned to one side of the center of the bore 13.

Positioned in the bore 13 on the partition 15 I provide an automatic valve closure which I have indicated generally at 18 and shown in detail in Fig. 6. The closures 18 are preferably made in molds from a good grade of rubber and vulcanized to attain the desired elasticity. As shown the closure 18 comprises a preferably thin cylindrical body portion 19 and adownwardly extending boss 20-which is positioned to one side of the center of the body portion and is provided with a recess 21 from the base of which to the top surface of the body I provide a. slit 22. The body portion 19 of the closure is of a size to fit within the bore of the tube neck between the partition 15 and the top surface of the neck, and the boss 20 of the closure is adapted to be positioned in the elongated aperture 16 in the partition.

On the neck 12 I provide a cap 25 which includes a top member 26 and a depending side 27, the lower end of which is turned into the groove 14 of the neck thus retaining the cap in position on the neck and at the same time allowing the cap to be turned relative to the neck. In the top member 26 of the cap I provide an elongated aperture 28 which is radially offset the same distance the aperture 16 is radially ofiset. Thus when the cap is in one position the aperture 28 thereof will not align with the a rture 16 of the neck as shown in Fi 1 an 2 but when the cap is turned to anot er tion the aperture 28 therein will align wit the a erture 16 in the neck as shown in Figs. 3 an 4.

When the cap 25 is in the last mentioned ition the slit 22 of the closure valve 18 will exposed and upon pressure being a lied to the tube 10 the contents thereof wil orce the valve slit 22 open and be discharged there from as shown in Fig. 3.

When the pressure on the tube is released the elasticity of the closure will force the slit 22 tightly closed and prevent any further extrusion of the contents. When the aperture 28 in the cap 25 is moved to a ition out of ali nt with the valve slit 22 as shown in ig. 1, pressure on the tube will not cause thecontents thereof to be extruded as the top member 26 of the cap will revent the contents of the tube from passing t rough the valve slit 22.

As shown in Fig. 7 the closure valve 18 may be provided wlth a boss 30 which is positioned over the slit 22 with the slit extending thereinto a short distance but not completely through. The boss 30 is preferably of the same size as theelongated aperture 16 in the cap 25 and is positioned in the aperture 16. The inner ed s of the cap aperture are bevelled to a kni e edge as indicated at 32. Before the contents of the tube are first used the boss 30 effectively seals the contents from the atmosphere and will maintain the contents in a fresh state indefinitely. When it is desired to extrude the contents of the tube it is only nry to rotate the cap 25 one complete turn. As the cap is turned the knife edges 32 of the cap aperture 16 cut the boss 30 0E on a plane parallel, with the tog surface of the closure, thereby exposing t e slit 22 In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a tube 35 which is provided with a modified form of automatic valve closure 36. As shown the tube 35 includes a neck 37 having a bore. 38 therein and an outer annular groove 39 simif lar to the tube 10. Positioned on the neck 37 I provide a cap 40 having an aperture 41 in the top surface thereof offset to one side of the center and having the lower ends of the cap turned into the neck groove 39 similar to the cap 25. On the inner surface of the bore 38 I providean annular flange 42ewhich' is ced below the top surface of the neck.

e closure 36 includes an outer annular groove 43 in which the neck flange 42 is adagted to be positioned and a recess 44 which is 0 set to one side of the center. From the base of the recess 44 through to the top surface of the closure valve I provide a slit 45 and I preferably form the bottom surface of the closure concave as shown, the top surface being plane and engaging the plane lower faceo the cap.

The operation of this closure valve 36 is similar to the operation of the closure valve 18.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a tube 48 which is provided with still another modified form of automatic valve closure 50. As shown the tube 48 includes frusto-conical portions 51 and a neck 52 having a bore 52' therein and an outer annular groove 53 similar to the tube 35. Positioned on the neck 52 I provide a cap 55 having an aperture 56 in the top surface thereof offset to one side of the center and having the lower ends of the cap turned into the neck groove similar to the cap 40.

The-closure valve 50 includes a recess 57 offset to one side of the center and extending from the base of the recess through to the top surface of the closure I provide a slit 58 similar to the recess and slit in the closure 36. The lower portion of the closure 50 is provided with an enlarged flange or skirt portion 59 which comprises a concave under surface and knife edge peripheral edges as shown. The upper surface of the skirt 59 is ada ted to abut the under surface of the conical tube ortion 51. The end of the valve is plane and engages the plane lower face of the cap.

The operation to extrude the contents of the tube 48 is similar to that explained in connection with the tube 10. When pressure is exerted on the tube 48 the pressure of the tube contents against the skirt 59 of the closure 50 forces the skirt into tight engagement with the frusto-conical portion 51 of the tube and prevents the tube contents from passing around the exterior of the closure 50.

From the foregoing descri tion it will be apparent that I have provide a novel closure for containers which is simple in construction, sanitary, and eflicient in use.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a receptacle having an eccentric discharge aperture, a cap rotatably mounted on said receptacle, said cap having an eccentric aperture in the top wall, said cap a rture being adapted in one gosition of sai cap to register with said ischarge aperture and a valve in said discharge aperture.

2. A receptacle havingla dispensing opening therein a closure aving an opening therein, sai closure being rotatably mounted on said receptacleto move thereon to bring said openings into or out of alignment said openings being eccentric to the axis of ro-,

tation of said closure and a valve member in said receptacle dispensin opening.

3. The combination 0 a collapsible tube having a neck and havingan end portion in said neck, said end portion having an a rture therein, a valve mounted in the en of said neck, a cap fitted on the endportion of said tube, said cap having the inner face thereof flush with the outer face of said valve, said cap being mounted to rotate independent of said valve.

4. In combination with a receptacle having a neck portion, a closure extending across said neck, a recess in said neck, said closure having an eccentric aperture in the wall thereof, a rubber valve member in said recess and having a protuberance entering said aperture, and a slit in said protuberance.

5. A collapsible tube having a valved closure thereon, said valve closure including a projecting boss, a cap rotatably mounted on 5 said tube, and means on said cap to sever said boss from said valve closure.

6. In combination with a receptacle having a neck portion, a closure extending across said neck, said closure having an. eccentric aperture in the wall thereof, a rubber valve member in said neck portion and having a protuberance entering said aperture, said protuberance having a slit therein.

7. In combination with a receptacle hav ing an eccentric discharge aperture, a cap rotatably mounted on said receptacle, said cap having an eccentric aperture in the top wall, said cap aperture being adapted in one position of said cap to register with said discharge aperture and a valve on said receptacle, said valve being formed of flexible material, said valve including a neck fitting said discharge aperture.

8. In combination with a receptacle having a neck portion, a closure extending across said neck, a recess in said neck, said closure having an :eccentric aperture in the wall thereof, a rubber valve member in said recess and having a protuberance entering said 0 aperture, said protuberance having a slit therein, a cap on said neck, said cap including a body having a discharge aperture, said body normally covering said slit but being movable to cause said slit in one position of 5 said cap to register with said discharge aperture.

9. In combination with a receptacle having a neck portion, a closure extending across said neck, said closure having aneccentric 5o aperture in the wall thereof, said closure being spaced from the end of said neck to form a recess, a rubber member fitting said recess and having a protuberance arranged in said aperture, a slit in said protuberance and a cap on said neck, said cap having a discharge aperture, said slit in one position of said cap being adapted to register .with said discharge aperture.

10. In combination with a collapsible tube 60 having a relatively stiff neck thereon, a valve on said neck, saidvalve being formed of flexible material, a cap rotatably mounted on said neck, means to retain,said cap in position on said neck, said valve comprising a body por- 68 tion' having a boss on the upper side thereof,

said valve having a slitextending into said boss, said cap having an aperture therein, said boss being positloned in said a erture, the edges of said cap aperture being evelled to a knife edge and upon rotation of said cap 70 being adapted to sever said boss from said valve body portion and expose said slit.

11. In combination with a collapsible tube having a relatively stiff neck thereon, a wall in said neck forming a recess, an aperture in 7 said wall, a-valve in said recess, said valve being formed of flexible material, a cap rotatably mounted on said neck, means to retain said cap in position on said neck, an eccentric aperture in the top wall of said cap, said eccentric aperture being adapted in one position of said cap to register with said aperture in said neck wall, said valve comprlsing a body portion having a boss on the underside thereof and a boss on the upper side thereof, a recess in said under boss and a slit extending from the base of said recess through said body portion and into said upper boss, said under boss being positioned in said neck wall aperture and said upper boss being positioned in said aperture of said cap top Wall, the edges of said cap top wall aperture being bevelled to a knife edge and upon rotation of said cap being adapted to sever said upper boss from said valve body portion and expose sald slit.

12. In combination with a collapsible tube having a relatively stiff neck thereon, a wall in said neck forming a recess, said wall having an aperture therein, a valve in said recess, a cap rotatably mounted on said neck, an eccentric aperture in the top wall of said cap, said eccentric aperture bemg adapted in one position of said cap to register with the'aperture in said wall said valve being formed of flexible materia said valve comprising a body portion and a boss, the area of said valve bod portion being greater than the area of sai neck discharge aperture, said valve body a portion engagingthe wall of said neck and said boss being positioned in said eccentric aperture of said cap top wall, a recess in said valve, said valve having a slit extending from said recess through said body, said slit being adapted to be normally closed and being v adapted to be forced open by the contents of said tube.

13. In combination with a collapsible tube having a relatively stifli neck thereon, a flange on the inner surface of said-neck said flange being spaced from the top surface of said neck, a. valve in said neck, said valve being formed of flexible material, an annular groove in the outer surface of said valve, said neck flange being positioned in said valve 126 groove, an eccentric recess in said valve, a slit in said valve extending from the base of said recess to the top surface of said valve, said slit being normally closed, a cap rotatably mounted on said neck, means to retain said. 130

, *c'apinpositionon saidneck'anieccentrie j;

aperturein theto' mupgmi cap,'sa ideapf aperture being a ted in oneposit onto j a iregie'terwithsaidv verecese, g o

In;combinatienwith acollapsible tube -o a] o ,ineludin afrusto-conicalu perportion'hav v f i a I 318'?" F ly stifi neckt ereon avalvein' i i j, fendneckflaid valre'being formedofflexible'r f lg l 1- o 1*"? s materielganenlarged skirtadjecentthelower o in portion ofeaid valve, the under surface :of j; w a q o I saidskirtbeingcoucaveand thegperipheral edgesof 'said skirt being knifejedgedythe o u per surface of saidskirtbeingadapted'to J1 an ut the undersurface ofsaid'conical rtion, a la of said tube, an eccentricrecess in: sai valve,

a {slit in said valve extending from the; base a of said recess to the top surfaceof said valve, a said slit adupted'to be normally closed; a cap rotatably mounted on said tube neck, an eccentric aperture in the top wall of said cap, said eccentric aperture being adapted in one position of said ca toregister with said eccentric recess in sai valve.

15. In combination with a receptacle having an eccentric discharge aperture, a closure member rotatably mounted on said receptacle, said closure member having an eccentric aperture in the top walL'said closure member aFert-ure bein adapted in one position of said c osure mem er to register with said discharge aperture and a valve for controlling discharge through said apertures.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature. 85 ARTHUR E. SMITH.

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